Book Title: Spiegel van het menselyk bedrijf : in kleuren vertoond met honderd verbeeldingen, van ambachten, konsten, hanteeringen en bedryven, met verzen / Jan en Kasper Luiken.

Author: Luiken, Jan, 1649-1712

Image Title: The Gold Wire Drawer: Virtue keeps its youth

Scripture Reference:

• Proverbs 8 (further images / scripture text)

Description: The gold wire drawer uses a turning-wheel at his workbench in front of the window. On the wall next to the window hang a balance scale and a coil of wire. Two women talk with each other in a second room. The Dutch artist and poet, Jan Luiken (1649-1712), was responsible for drawing this emblem and for creating the motto and poem that follow. Jan Luiken and/or his son Casper Luiken (1672-1708) were responsible for its etching. The attendant scripture text is Proverbs 8:10. Motto: Virtue keeps its youth. Poem: Gilded silver thread, drawn /Through the narrow gate of steel eyes, /Doesn’t lose its gold appearance: /The devout goes through narrow paths, /And keeps his splendor, as first acquired, /Through death, and all sorrow. (Translation by Josephine V. Brown, with editorial assistance from William G. Stryker).

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